davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
TO THE CHICKAHOMikY.

After Williamsburg, McClelan's army fol-
lowed on toward Richmond. There were
always delays though, sometimes from one
cause, again from another. Part of the troops
were sent back to Yorktown, where they were
embarked on transports and sent up the York
to Elthams landing, above West Point,
Franklin's division, which had been on land
only one day since they left Washington, near
the middle of April, was the advance at
Elthams landing. Franklins men had all
indecisive little encounter with the retreating
Confederates.
1t took good two weeks for the Federal
army to move from Williamsburg to White
House, where the next headquarters were.
The distance Travelled was forty miles, and a
part of the army was now within seven miles
of Richmond Certainly Gen. Mcclellan got
steadily nearer Richmond.
The Federal forces we're concentrated be-
tween the Palnunkey AMI the Chickahominy.
The Pamunliey was the south branch Of the
York. The Chickahominy lay between the
Federal army and Richmond, just as Gen.
Johnston meant it should. In a war map Of
the situation before Richmond, published at
that time day after day in one of the leading
newspapers of the United States, the Chicka-
hominy river does not appear at all. The
newspaper correspondents with McClellan's
army evidently did not know there was such
a stream They found it out before the sum
mer was over.
After Williamsburg Mcclellan reported
that he had only 1000 men. In response to
his urgent demand for more troops, Nc
Dowells corps of II 900 men was ordered to
90 to him by way OF fredericksburg By
following these points constantly on the map
the reader will get distinct idea of the
Peninsula campaign. Mcdowell was not
under McClellan'S command but led an sin
dependent cooperating army" Gen. Shields
division was drawn from Banks force in the
Shenandoah valley, and added to McDowell's
corps.
Mcdowell was ordered to leave Tredericks-
burg and join Mcclellan the middle of May.
which was the time Mcclellan fixed his head
quarters at White House, Oh the Pamunkey.
White House was the property of Mary
Gusts Lee, great granddaughter of Martha
Washington, married to a son of Gen. Robert
L. Lee. On the site OF this building had
stood one in which Washington courted and
married the widow Custis.
Mcdowell did not get ready to march for
ten DAYS, Nav 26 Then came the Stonewal
jackson scare i'll the Shenandoah valley, and
once more it was all up with the plan for
Joining Mcdowell to the army of the Po-
tomac. DcDowell was ordered back in
haste and commanded to send 1900 men at
once to the Shenandoah
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

Gen. Johnston was GEN. G. W. SMITH.
seriously wounded and the command
,levolyed Oh Gustavus w Smith. He
also was wounded, but even that aid not stop
the fight. About dark, Sumner ordered q
bayonet charge of five regiments, which broke
the Confederate line, and the fight was ended
for May 81.
Richardson's brigade and the artillery had
been mircd in the mud hut they came up
during the night Next morning, June at
8 o'clock, the Confederates made another at
tack. Richardson commanded on the Fed
eral side, and was on the lookout. There
was an indecisive fight of several hours. Gen.
U. o. Howard lost his arm here, and Gen.
Thomas f. Meagher, the patriot, fought
valiantly with his Irish brigade. On the
Confederate side Gems. Roger A. Pryor and
Malone, afterwari United States senator
from Virginia commanded the Confederates
Gen. Lee and President jefferson Davis rode
out in carriage to see the fight from Rich
mond of May 81
June | the Confederate army, with its
stores and ammunition, was being removed to
Richmond all day Toward evening the Con-
federates under Pryor went there too. That
was the last Of the Fair Oaks fighting Each
side lost some 1000 1t was bloody fight.
In the morning of June Hooker made
reconnaissance toward Richmond He APP
preached it within four miles anu reported
that only few pickets could he seen. 1t
seemed u good time to march on Richmond,
but the commander in chief ordered Hooker
back and began anew around Fair Oaks the
throwing up Of eartbwork intrenchmenta
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
The PENINSULA.
From Fortress Monroe to Fair
Oaks battle-ground.
GEN. GEORGE B. l1'CLELLAN,
The People Hailed Him as the "Youns
Napoleon"

A State of Chronic Nervousness About tho
Safety of Washington Prevented Nc
Cleilan from Being supported as lie
wished-The Second Siege OF No.!S'
town-worklng slowly and Painfully
Up the Peninsula Toward Eichmond-
In the Swamps-The Cbickahominy.
During tile winter oflsli2 London Punch re-
marked that the American civil war was the
civilest ii ever heard Of
In the summer If 1861 the north had been
crying for n leader Popular demand was
satisfied by the appointment of Maj. Gen.
George Brinton Mcclellan to be commander
in chief, first of the army of the Potomac,
then of the armies of the whole United States
The first promotion came July ~, the second
Nov. !, 1851
1t was not till the next spring 1852, how
ever, that any fighting was done 10y the army
of the Potomac The quarter centennial time
of that fighting has come. IL fluids most of
the leaders on both side, gone from the scene
of all earthly strife.
Mcclellan was not onlya West Pointer, but
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
HANOVER COURT HOUSE.

Between McDowell's front at Fredericks-
burg and McClellan's right before Richmond
there was force of 1900 Confederates.
They were Anderson's and Branchs brigades
and part of Stuart's cavalry. Branch's
brigade was at Hanover Court House, four
teen miles north of Richmond To clear
these 1900 away, to destroy the bridges over
the South Anna and the Pamunkey, which
would keep the Coafederates from getting in
the rear of the Union army from the right
and to cut the railroad from Richmond to
Northern Virginia. Fitz John Porter was sent
with 1900 men. May q. m heavy rain,
the battle Of Hanover Court House was
fought, and Porter routed the Confed
crates Bridges were destroyed according t.
the plan, which was in other respects carried
out, except that the railroad from Richmond
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

FAIR OAhS BATTLE UtOCND.
Casey was pressed backward to Fair Oaks
station with requirements that had been
sent him by Reyes. There was deadly fight
ing around Fair Oaks. At the same time
there was a desperate contest about Seven
Pines, and Peck's brigade of Federal troops
was forced back. Confederates swarned in
in on the Union right, left and center.
COUGHS left was turned, and his division cut
in two, and Kearney, who had endeavored to
save the left, was driven hack.
Gen Sumner alone saved the part of the
army south of the Chickahominy from ami
hia,ion He had ordered a bridge built on
his front across the Chickahominy several
days before This was the famous Grape
vine bridge. There were only two bridges
besides this 10y which the Federal troops
might cross the Chickahominy. These were
Bottoms bridge and the railway bridge
At 2:30 O'Clock Mcclellan ordered Sumner
to cross the river to the aid of Keyes and
Heitzelman The fact that the Grapevine
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25


naval vessels in his
campaign toward
Richmond. I h ,
first plan was a
combined land and
naval attack upon
Yorktown up the
York river from
Fortress Monroe.
But the navy could
not "co-operate,"as
the general under
stood it should, and
Gen. Webb, in his
peninsula c a m =
paign,' puts that
l N.rtI
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

river, which flows
TO the southeast,
then sud denly
takes a sharp turn
to the south and
empties into the
James. That is the
Chica h o mlny,
where much fight
ing was done, but
where fevcis and
malaria carried of
more men than oil
the fighting in VIZ
ginin. Within its
poison breeding
swamps lie tho
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

Turn now to your map, run your finger
down the Chesapeake bay, and stop at that
portion of Virginia between the James and
the York rivers. Run your eye up that, and
YOU will see that it is long tongue OF land
formed 10y those two rivers, and lying north
west and southeast That is 1.-The Peninsula"
and there is where McClellan's battles were
fought. Well W toward the upper end hes
Richmond, the objective point Of the army OF
the Potomac. Slightly to the north OF Rich
nlond YOU viii notice q long, crooked little
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

bridge was already
built saved I he day,
what there was left
of it. Su m II e r
crossed in haste
with Sedgwick's
and Richardson's
divisions and took
command. Line of
battle was formed
by Gen. SedSwick
anew in the woods
near Fair Oaks.
and the battle ragged
even hotter than
before. Confederate
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

had seen actual ser
vice inthe Mexican
war. lie was born
in Philadelphia in
1926. He was grad
uatcd from West
Point before he was
20 years old The
most promising
graduates of West
Point are inincdl-
atcly assigned to
the engineer corps.
II Is the crack
corps Of the rcSri-
lar army. Young
NlsElplluu wnS Mt
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

break, but his chief
forbade it. Smith
felt sure the at
tempt would have
been successful, for
his men were in
fighting mood. He
declared the few
Vermont boys per
formed more indi-
yidual acts Of he
roism than any 9th
or troops he had
heard Of.
There was CON
..l
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
March the Con ederate army evacuated
Centreville. 1t had lain, with 10000 men,

twenty miles from
WASHINGTON opPos-
ed to an prmy three
times az large for
months,
March 3 Gen.
Joseph a. Johnston
"detectct indica-
tons Of unusual
activity in a part
OF the Fee @ ra
camp" swiftly
and silcI Iy there
upon be moved TO
the south bank OF
the RapIs hammock,
anda'tprIhat there
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

Confederate army
concentrated after
Bull Run. Beau
regard commanded
it up to tho end OF
January, SOC.
Then he was sent
west, and Joseph Il.
Johnston became
general in chief OF
tho Con ( ederate
army Of the east.
Mcclellan called
for more and more
recruits for Ii is
arm y. President
n sI 81 a
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
DAN WEBSTER.

Gen. Mcclellan rode from Yorktown to
Williamsburg, fourteen miles, upon his favor
tie war horse, Dan Webster. The generals
aides called him "Devil Dan" and he could
trot steady gait all day. Mcclellan never
parted with the faithful beast, but kept him
till Dan died, in 1879
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25
FAIR OAKS STATION.

The Confederate army Ietreated to Williams
burg, eleven miles further up the Peninsula.
Here the third line OF the Confederate forti-
cat onS crossed the Peninsula. Johnston's re-
tra was accomplished the night of May s..
1t v as before Yorktown that captive war bal
lOor began to be used.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

Washington. For weeks tho Confederate
flag floated on Munsons Hill In plain sight of
the marble dome OF the Capitol.
Ccntrcville and Manassas, both far too close
10 Washington, We're tho points Mt which tho
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-06-25

to Fredericksburg was not cut. "LackmI
that" wrote Lincoln to Mcclellan, "the scral
of the Virginia Central from Richmond 4
Hanover Junction is simply nothing"
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08
The River.

The river stands to-day at Is inches
above low water mark, being as high a
point as has yet been reached this season.
On the Sd it stood at the same notch, but
on Saturday and Sunday dropped three
inches. One year ago to-day 45 inches
above was the record and as there were
no June rains it did not get much, if any,
higher. Two years ago the river stood al
60 inches above low water mark and as
far back as the record has been kept there
has not been as good stage of water as
now obtains in the first days of June
Clearly this will be the best navigation
season ever known on the upper Big Mud.
dy-not only as regards the volume OF
water but of business as we'll.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08

little news to report, except that a North
ern Pacific party, composed of President
Harris, Director Wright and two or three
other of the directors, none Of whom latter
have ever visited Montana, would be here
in day or two. He believed it to be the
intention of the road to actively encourage
and facilitate the work Of building up a
great system of feeders in this country.
He thought without doubt the Red Bluff
road would be built this year, but ne was
not prepared to say just now whether it
be from Boulder or Gallatin. The Helena
& Rimini road will be Immediately ex-
tended mile or two further up the galch
to bring trains handler TO some of the
mines. This work will begin Immediate
ly. Other work in the territory in which
the Northern Pacific and Mr. Hauser are
interested will be pushed as rapidly as
possible, and probably other enterprises
undertaken.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08
From the Upper Country.

Mr.. w. J. Minar returned Thursday
from Helena on the coach, and we gather
from him the following items:
Sheriff Black is still in Helena unable to
proceed to Deer Lodge with his two pris-
oners owing to the blockade at the Null
Ian tunnel.
The game of base ball between the Liv-
ingston and Helena mines was well con-
tested, each nine having some first-class
players. Helena scooped in the $500 pot
and 500 gate receipts, besides winning all
the loose change of the Livingston boys
and their hackers. That evening one OF
the enthusiastic Helena winners. very
popular gentleman, turned the keys of the
city over to the defeated nine and their
yictors, and then proceeded to impart that
roseate hue to the surrounding landscape
which is eminently proper on such occa-
sions
The Montana Central grade is standing
the high water through the canyon re-
markably well. There has been no wash
out of any kind.
The creek is up over the wagon road in
some places, and the coach being heavily
loaded with freight, express, mail and II
passengers stuck in one place and every
thing had to be unloaded.
The standing poles of the Rocky Noun
tain telegraph line are leaning in every di-
rection and many of them are down be-
tween Helena and Sun River. The line
between the Leavings of Sun river and
Benton is in a great deal better shape than
it is above.
The road above Reinicke's, where the
new grade was put in year or more ago,
is being badly washed out by Sun river,
which is cutting the banks away rapidly
at that point.
At Great Falls, Thursday, on arrival OF
the coach, the ferry could not run owing
to heavy wind blowing up stream, caus-
ing the waves to run SO high as to make
the crossing dangerous. The passengers
for Great Falls had to come back to Johns
town and wait for the wind to subside.
It was reported at Johnstown that the
boom which held the saw logs had given
away and for the second time large num-
Der of logs escaped.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08
The Billings Tine.

Mr.. John J. Davis, superintendent OF
the Benton and Billings stage line, arrived
on the coach Thursday for the pursose
of looking after the affairs OF the com"
pany at this end of the route. Mr.. Davis
reports that business on the line is good
and that especially in the Judith aud that
section they are having their hands full.
He has recently put on new stock almost
the entire length Of the line and the
drivers now hold the ribbons over four
horses all the way through.
Commencing last Monday the coaches
leave Fort Benton at O'Clock p. m.
and arrive at seven or eight O'Clock in the
morning, thus shortening the through trip
to eastern points one day. Express rates
to and from Billings will also be reduced
to five cents pound, and in general the
company expect to meet the demands OF
our business men and the travelling public.
Other important changes are also in con-
temptation of which we Will have some
thing to say hereafter.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08
A Good Indian Agent.

Mai. Baldwin, of the Blackfeet agency,
is pursuing a plan that will certainly
prove effectual in preventing future trou-
Bile with the British Bloods. Whenever
any of those foreign Indians are found
upon the reservation his Indian police,
under his instructions, bring the intruders
before the agent, who ascertains their bus
mess and by what right they are upon the
reservation of his wards. If very satis-
factory account is not given and backed
up by written documents or other good
witness, they are either given notice to
leave and Immediately sent across the
line under the care of his Indian police,
or put in the cooler and fed only on crack
ers and water while serving out their sem
tence. Major Baldwin is determined to
leaYe nothing undone to preserve peace
on the reservation and to teach those
northern invaders that they cannot with
impunity cross the line and foment discord
and trouble among the Indians under his
charge, nearly all of whom have accepted
the situation cheerfully and are endeavor-
ing to learn the peaceful ways of husband
ry. Major Baldwin is entitled to and will
receive the thanks of all the people OF
northern Montana as we'll as our friends
across the line for the very sensible course
he is pursuing.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08
INDEMNITY LANDS.
Secretary Lamar Gives Further Outline
of the New Policy Regarding Them.

WASHINGTON, May 3l.-The letter of
Secretary Lamar to the president on the
subject of indemnity lands seems to have
led the way to che beginning of settled
policy in the interior department upon
this question, and to-day the first am
nouncement of the fundamental princi-
pies was made in Il decision rendered in
southern Pacific case. The secretary de-
cided that the road, if it desires to save its
land, must appear in the local land office
and announce its right upon notice of
entry when given or lose its land. In re-
viewing this case, and refusing to reopen
it, the secretary says regarding indemnity
sands:
The right of the road to make selection
in indemnity limits is nothing more or
less than a preference right that they may
assert against every one, but having no
tice of the intention OF a settler to make
final proof on any tract of land within said
limits, this land being within indemnity
limits, the company have no vested right
by reason OF withdrawal, but their right
70 any particular tract can only become
vested by selection made with the appro-
val of the secretary. Having no vested
rights by virtue of withdrawal, and the
withdrawal depending solely upon the
will of the secretary OF the interior, that
withdrawal may be revoked at any time
and the land restored to entry at the will
Of the same official that made it.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08

Major G. r. Norris, the leading mer-
chant of Judith, is in the city for few
days, having come overland on the south
side of the river. By this route he says
it is only So miles to that point, while on
the north side the distance is rs miles. He
informs as that the Bay State Cattle COM
pany. who have about 10000 head of cat
tie on the ranges in that vicinity, nave
moved their headquarters to a point five
or six miles above the mouth of the Ju-
dith, and that this year their property
is assessable in Choteau county,
instead of Fergus as heretofore.
The Rochester brothers, who are horse
and cattle owners, are engaged in building
a large ferry boat at the mouth OF the Ju-
dith, which will be swung by single rope
anchored in the middle of the river and
supported by buoys. The boat will swing
from one side of the river to the other like
the pendulum of clock. BY this means
the channel is not obstructed as by wire
rope hung from shore to shore. The ferry
will soon be in operation and will be able
to carry the heaviest teams.
Mr.. Norris says that at least 500 tons o.
freight will be landed this season at Ju
dith for Lewistown, Maiden, Cottonwood
and interior points generally. There vii
also be quite lot of wool shipped from
that place this fall, that being the mos
convenient point for large number o
wool growers on the lower Judith am
Dog creek.
During Mr.. Norris absence Mr.. L. Y
Bogy is in charge of the business, an
will remain until Mr.. Norris returns
when he will again resume his post her
with Z. C. Power & Bro.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-06-08
THE PRAIRIE DOGS.
The Territory Might esGet Even on the
Bounty by Selling the Skins.

In view of the great destruction that is
being wrought on some portions Of the
ranges and valleys by the prairie dogs it
certainly behooves our farmers and stock
men to devise ways and means to effectu-
ally exterminate them or drive them out.
There is no denying the fact that, since
the wolves and coyotes, their natural ene-
mics, have been in measure exterminat-
ed, they are increasing at an alarming
rate. 1t is stated that they breed some
times twice year and the young number
from four to seven in each litter. Left to
increase at will it can be readily seen that
they will soon cover vast areas Of valuable
land. Their natural food is the native
grass, which they eat down to the roots
and then eat the roots. When they have
destroyed one piece Of ground SO effectu-
ally that they can not live upon it they
move to a new spot, and it takes years for
the former place to recover its natural
condition. We have talked with many in
terested persons on this subject and they
all agree that the animals are increasing
rapidly, and thatin some instances they
have absolutely destroyed valuable
ranches.
The bounty offered for prairie dog skins
is a wise measure, even though it is ex-
pensive, and the only way to lessen the
expense is to make some use Of the skins
taken if their value can be estimated. In
the course of our enquiries on that point
we were fortunate enough TO meet gen.
tleman who has used the skins and can
certify to their value for any purpose to
which good buckskin might be put. Jno.
y. Davis, superintendent of the Montana
stage line, says that in Colorado, years
ago. the stage drivers used to have them
tanned for the purpose Of pointing out,
the ends of their whip lashes, and that
for that purpose they are superior to the
best buckskin. Now any western man
knows that skin that is tough enough
to e.point out'' whip has ''good leather
in it.'' the best in the world. It will
make ffrst-class gloves either with or
without the fur; and the RIVER PREss
raises ts voice and calls, not only for the
IL erinination of the dogs, but Tor the
preservation of the skins. They are toe
valuable to be destroyed. rs under the
present system.